I haven’t seen a diary on this before. I just saw a news story on NEWSY about a group of almost 400 migrants detained by the CPB (Customs and Border Patrol) in Arizona on Jan. 14. Apparently many of the migrants in the group crossed over by tunneling under the border fence through a total of seven holes. CPB has released photos and video of the group and report almost all are families with women and children. Details were not released for four days after the occurrence for whatever reason.
As I watched the story, I was reminded of the movie in which the POWs in the movie “The Great Escape” were digging their way out whereas these migrants were digging their way in. Walls will not stop determined people and building them will be ineffective, costly, and at most, a delay. As my wife said when I told her the story, “where there’s a will there’s a way.” These people had a reason to travel here and trying to stop them with a wall, etc. is a stopgap measure at best.
Trump and his supporters claim a wall is the answer to migration and improved national security. They say this justifies the government shutdown in order to build more border walls. But this group of unarmed civilian families have shown that physical barriers will not stop their quest for a better life. They will go over, under or around any obstacles. Whether a hole under a border fence or tunneling under a wall of concrete or steel slats, barriers are not the answer and must be resisted.
This country’s leaders have repeatedly lied so they could proclaim war and use brute force claiming (insert the current threat here) endangers national security. Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq, the war on drugs, and now immigration have been used politically to consolidate and justify the abuse of power. This just doesn’t work and we have to stop. It causes so much pain and destruction without making the problem better. Don’t forget to VOTE!